Liverpool’s squad is set to be drastically reshaped during the current summer transfer window.
The Reds have had the same group of players for almost two years, after largely keeping their powder dry ahead of a Premier League-winning season last year.
However, having seen Jeremie Frimpong already arrive and with plenty more business slated to happen as well, things are set to change this time.
As well as arrivals, there are likely to be a number of departures. Caoimhin Kelleher is on the verge of joining Brentford and the Irishman will not be the only player sold this summer.
As per a report in The Telegraph on Sunday evening, Harvey Elliott is now ‘expected’ to be sold along with Kelleher.
Elliott is a fan favourite on account of his clear love for Liverpool and the fact that his attitude has remained impeccable despite a lack of game time from Arne Slot. But, when all is said and done, it has not been enough to secure Elliott’s future at Anfield.
Photo by Shaun Brooks - CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Harvey Elliott’s Liverpool dream turns sour
When Elliott joined Liverpool in 2019, it was immediately clear that it had been his dream from a very young age to represent the Reds.
Elliott claimed he turned down Real Madrid to join Liverpool and has spoken at length of his desire to be a success at Anfield.
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Up until this season, it had looked probable that Elliott could do exactly that. Although the 22-year-old was at times underused by Jurgen Klopp, he had made 119 appearances by the age of just 21.
With Slot arriving in the summer, it felt like the time for Elliott to really kick on and become a regular in the starting XI.
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However, despite starting pre-season well under Slot, Elliott soon picked up an injury. By December he had played just eight minutes of first-team football.
Liverpool were purring at the time, and as Slot became more confident in his starting XI, he appeared to become less and less willing to use Elliott.
There was a real high point in March, when the No. 19 came off the bench to get an unlikely winner against PSG. Ironically, that contributed to Elliott equalling his best ever goals return at Liverpool, scoring five.
Andy Robertson called Elliott an ‘unsung hero‘ in Liverpool’s title win, but the England U21 star would have loved a far bigger role. Having accepted that he is simply not Slot’s man, there is seemingly no way back.
Elliott accepts defeat at Liverpool
When rumours first started that Elliott could leave back in January, he answered back by scoring a lovely goal against Lille in the Champions League.
“I think it’s pretty clear to be honest, I’m not leaving,” Elliott told Amazon Prime Sport after that game.
“You know, I think I said it in an interview the other day, this is my team. This is my club, I’m a massive fan, you know, and we’re in a great position so far this season.”
However, when asked about his future after facing Brighton four months later, the former Fulham youngster struck a very different tone.
“It’s been hard with how much I’ve played. I’ve tried as hard as I could, and whatever happens, happens,” he said. “It’s about what’s best for my career. It’s about reflecting and seeing what I can do. I’m here at the moment and I’m focusing on the final game.”
Such a shift in four months was difficult to see coming and shows just how much Elliott has been impacted by this season. If he is to leave, you can bet the midfielder will be hellbent on proving to Slot that he was wrong to let him go. The Liverpool boss may come to regret how things have turned out.